The Contribution of the „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaºi to the Generation of Human Capital in North-Eastern Region and in Romania in the Context of the Current Economic Crisis

The current economic and financial crisis, triggered in July 2007 in the United States, has hit the world economy with an unprecedent force since the Great Depression in the '30’s. Romania, a country with few years of experience in the functioning of the market economy could not avoid the negative effects of the crisis. One important element of ressilience is the higher education system neccesary for quickly restoring the economy and adapting the human capital to these critical conditions. In this context, the generation of human capital throughout its graduates represents the most direct contribution that a university can provide to regional and national economic development. Under these circumstances, the objective of this paper is to quantify the contribution of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ia?i, the oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in Romania, to the generation of human capital in the North-Eastern Region and in Romania in the context of the current economic crisis.